Review of wards and modes of representation
review committee on electoral WARDs and representation methods
Due to the Local Governance Reform of 2023, which saw the amalgamation of the City of Edmundston, the Village of Rivière-Verte, part of the LSD of Saint-Jacques and part of the LSD of Saint-Joseph, the municipal council has asked to review the boundaries of the electoral wards and the representation methods and to suggest a method of representation based on comments received during consultations with the public.
In particular, Edmundston's elected officials want to find a citizen representation model that reflects this new municipal entity.
In order to proceed with this complex process, the municipal council approved in December 2024 the creation of an independent advisory committee of citizens whose mandate includes examining and recommending models for representing the population.
The aim of this review of electoral arrangements is to help ensure effective and equitable representation, thereby giving the communities that make up this new City a voice in the decision-making process. In particular, the review could realign boundaries, reflect demographic changes and better serve the distribution and evolving interests of communities.
Retired judge George Pérusse has agreed to chair the Ward and Representation Review Committee. He is assisted by the following members:
- Dominique Babineau
- Jacques Desjardins
- Madeleine Dubé
- Bernard LeBel
- Noëlline LeBel
GOAL : effective REPRESENTATION
The review committee was mandated to :
- Consult and listen to the public.
- Take account of the various geographical, social and demographic issues.
- Examine the different models of representation (hybrid, traditional, general).
- Evaluate and recommend effective and equitable representation to be implemented at the next elections in 2026.
POSSIBLE MODEL TYPES
Hybrid representation model
Some councillors are elected by ward, while others are elected by general ballot (not linked to a ward).
General representation model
Wards no longer exist and council members are elected for the municipality as a whole.
Traditional representation model
The municipality is divided into wards, with the number of elected members determined by municipal by-law.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION SESSIONS - 6:30 TO 9 PM
